Afternoon: Hotel check in after 3:00 PM. Road Scholar on site registration from 4:30 PM - 5:15 PM in the hotel meeting room.

Dinner: Dinner at Golden Goose Restaurant, adjacent to the hotel. Participants will have multiple entrees to choose from with typical rotating selections to include Chicken Marsala, salmon/fish, meat loaf, pastas, and vegetarian options.

Evening: The Northern Arizona University Road Scholar coordinator will conduct a program orientation in the hotel meeting room following dinner. Get to know your fellow participants and get prepared for the action packed adventure you are about to embark on.

Lodging: Sedona Super 8 Hotel

Meals Included: Dinner

Morning Natural History Presentation / Ride the Scenic Verde Canyon Railway!

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Golden Goose Restaurant. Multiple hot entrees to choose from including bacon and eggs, french toast and sausage, veggie omelet and fruit, oatmeal, etc.

Morning: Enjoy a morning natural or human history presentation (depending on staff availabilty). Learn about the fascinating geology of the Sedona area and the Grand Canyon region through a presentation by Stan Beus, a noted Grand Canyon geologist, professor Emeritus of geology at Northern Arizona University and author of "Grand Canyon Geology." Find out what makes the red rocks red and explore the latest theories of how the Grand Canyon was formed.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant before boarding the Verde Canyon Railway.

Afternoon: Enjoy the afternoon riding the Verde Canyon Railway from Clarkdale to Perkinsville and back (about 20 miles each way). The train travels 10-15 mph and, for much of the trip, is deep in the Verde River Canyon (up to 2,000 feet deep) traveling very close to river level. Various wildlife is commonly seen, including bald eagles, other raptors, blue herons, deer, fox, coyote, and javelina (a sort of wild pig-like desert animal). Participants will have a seat in an enclosed car plus access to an open observation car.

Dinner: Dinner at the Wild Orchid Restaurant. Known for its “Healthy Asian Fusion” cuisine, the Wild Orchid serves up delicious, perfectly flavored rice, noodle and mixed veggie and meat dishes family style in a friendly atmosphere.

Evening: A select evening program on a topic of regional interest will be offered for the groups entertainment.

Lodging: Sedona Super 8 Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning Presentation on Southwest Prehistoric Cultures / Tour Sedona's Red Rock Country

Note: Walking opportunities during the afternoon field trip of up to one mile.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Golden Goose Restaurant. Multiple hot entrees to choose from including bacon and eggs, french toast and sausage, veggie omelet and fruit, oatmeal, etc.

Morning: Enjoy a morning natural or human history presentation (depending on staff availability). Enjoy a cultural presentation on Native American traditions of the Hopi or a presentation on the prehistory of the southwest through the archaeological record. The Hopi people trace their history in the Southwest to long before the Spanish arrived in 1540 and many villages have been occupied since the 1100s A.D.

Lunch: Lunch at the Golden Goose Restaurant. Multiple entrees to choose from including hot and cold sandwiches (vegetarian option daily), burgers, Caesar salad, etc.

Afternoon: Our afternoon field trip will take us on a journey to see and visit a few of Sedona's most majestic sights. Visit Airport Mesa for a geographic overview of the region, Travel on the Bell Rock Scenic Drive and see other scenic vistas in and around Sedona.

Dinner: Dinner at Golden Goose Restaurant, adjacent to the hotel. Participants will have multiple entrees to choose from with typical rotating selections to include Chicken Marsala, salmon/fish, meat loaf, pastas, vegetarian options, etc

Evening: Free Evening.

Lodging: Sedona Super 8 Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Walking opportunities along the rim of the Grand Canyon or down into it's depths. Up to 2 miles or as little as 1/2 mile, depending on your preference.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Golden Goose Restaurant. Multiple hot entrees to choose from including bacon and eggs, french toast and sausage, veggie omelet and fruit, oatmeal, etc.

Morning: Check out of hotel, load luggage and depart Sedona for Williams (65 miles) and the Grand Canyon Railway depot. Enjoy the Wild West Show before boarding the Grand Canyon Railway train for a scenic and entertaining ride across the Coconino Plateau to the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon Railway first arrived at the Grand Canyon in 1901. It heralded in a new age of travel, development and some might say luxury at the canyon. Experience and relish this "classic" way of travel to the "doorsteps" of the El Tovar Hotel, the historic Grand Canyon Village and to the very rim of the canyon. On board, strolling musicians will provide entertainment during the ride. Enjoy lunch as you travel.

Lunch: Sack lunches en route to Grand Canyon aboard the train.

Afternoon: Arrive at Grand Canyon Village. Once at the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park the group will gather for the first awe-inspiring views of the canyon. Your naturalist guide will point out the canyon's many features with historic and natural significance. With your guide, tour the historical Grand Canyon Village, sometimes called "downtown Grand Canyon", the site of much of the human development on the canyon's south rim. Highlights of the village include the Kolb Brothers Photography Studio and the buildings of Santa Fe Railroad designer Mary Jane Colter including the Bright Angel Lodge, Lookout Studio and the Hopi House. At the east end of the village visit the 100 + year old El Tovar Hotel, one of the greatest hotels in the National Park System. Hear discussion of the Village's development. Take in many viewpoints of the Canyon from the village boardwalk.You'll be able to see the spectacular red rock faces of the North Rim and various spires and mesas rising from the Canyon floor nearly a mile below. There will be an option to walk part way down the famed Bright Angel Trail into the canyon and time during the afternoon for personal exploration of rim trails, canyon vistas and shops. Check into one of the Grand Canyon south rim lodges.

Dinner: Dinner at your leisure at the Lodge dining facility. Choices include hot entrees, soups, salads, sandwiches, Mexican specialties, and a variety of tasty desserts.

Evening: Optional National Park Service Ranger Program.

Lodging: GC South Rim Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Optional hiking of up to 2 miles either along the Grand Canyon Rim or down into it's depths.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Lodge dining facility. Options include scrambled eggs, pancakes, french toast, sausage, bacon, oatmeal, fresh fruit, juices, milk, coffee and more.

Morning: Check out of hotel and continued exploration of Grand Canyon. Your coordinator will present many guided activities as well as free time options. One of the many options presented may include riding the free National Park Service shuttle along the West Rim Drive to Hermit's Rest. The West Rim Drive shuttle offers access to numerous fantastic viewpoints (Hopi, Mohave and Maricopa points to name a few) with sweeping views the canyon and the Colorado River. Other activities may include rim walks, ranger programs, exploration of the Visitor Center or just finding a quiet spot on the rim to contemplate and gaze out at the canyon - soaking up all of its grandeur.

Lunch: Lunch at the Grand Canyon.

Afternoon: After lunch board vans or coach and depart for Sedona via Flagstaff and the San Francisco Peaks. Check into Sedona Hotel.

Dinner: Dinner in Sedona at a local restaurant.

Evening: Enjoy a lively performance with longtime local cowboy poets and musicians, Ken and Lynne Mikell. Ken and Lynne are a wealth of information on regional cowboy music and poetry. They will have you singing along to some of your favorite western and cowboy songs.

Lodging: Sedona Super 8 Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Golden Goose Restaurant. Multiple hot entrees to choose from including bacon and eggs, french toast and sausage, veggie omelet and fruit, oatmeal, etc.

Morning: Following breakfast, enjoy "Movies and Magic," a presentation about the film industry and its history in Sedona. Did you know that Elvis Presley made a movie in Sedona? Remember Jeff Chandler as Cochise in Broken Arrow with Jimmy Stewart? We bid one another fond farewells following the presentation. Program ends at 10:30 AM leaving plenty of time for hotel check out by 11:00 AM 

Meals Included: Breakfast